How to win a points league draft
In a points league every stat turns into one number. There are no categories to balance and nothing to punt: you want the players who put up the most fantasy points, as often as possible.
Projections updated 2026-10-14
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How the scoring works
Most ESPN points leagues use these values. Check your own league’s settings: plenty of commissioners change them, and 9cat reads your ESPN league’s scoring when you connect it.
- +1PTS
- +13PM
- +2FGM
- -1FGA
- +1FTM
- -1FTA
- +1REB
- +2AST
- +4STL
- +4BLK
- -2TO
Steals and blocks are worth four points each, assists two, and every missed shot costs you a point. So a centre who blocks two shots a night and a guard who scores eight more points can be worth the same.
Projected fantasy points per game
2026-27 leaders on ESPN standard scoring, from 9cat.app Projections.
- Nikola Jokic DEN66.6
- Luka Doncic LAL60.1
- Victor Wembanyama SAS59.3
- Giannis Antetokounmpo MIA55.8
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander OKC55.5
- Cade Cunningham DET50.7
- Jalen Johnson ATL48.1
- Tyrese Maxey PHI47.7
- Kawhi Leonard TOR46.7
- Tyrese Haliburton IND46.6
- Jayson Tatum BOS46.4
- Anthony Edwards MIN46.0
Where the points come from
The same total can be built very differently. Each bar splits a player’s projected fantasy points by stat; the striped bar below it is what missed shots and turnovers take back.
Volume is the theme. Points leagues reward minutes and usage more than anything, and the efficiency penalty is mild: a high-usage scorer who misses a lot still racks up points, where in 9-cat his FG% and turnovers would hurt you.
Points vs 9-cat: who moves
Ranks among the top 150 in projected fantasy points against our 9-cat rank.
Better in points
- Paolo Banchero#46 points · #126 9-cat
- Stephon Castle#61 points · #139 9-cat
- Zion Williamson#62 points · #113 9-cat
- Deni Avdija#36 points · #85 9-cat
- Coby White#91 points · #137 9-cat
- Jaylen Brown#29 points · #73 9-cat
Better in 9-cat
- Robert Williams III#150 points · #88 9-cat
- OG Anunoby#89 points · #41 9-cat
- Kel'el Ware#86 points · #39 9-cat
- Neemias Queta#121 points · #80 9-cat
- Reed Sheppard#123 points · #83 9-cat
- Mitchell Robinson#130 points · #90 9-cat
Drafting for points
Take the most fantasy points per game early, then lean on minutes. A role player who plays 34 minutes a night outscores a better player stuck at 24. Late in the draft, chase opportunity: starters on rebuilding teams and anyone stepping into a bigger role.
Games matter in head-to-head points, because your score is the total for the week. Durable players and teams with four-game weeks win matchups; check the Season totals view in our rankings to see who the projections expect to stay on the floor.
Draft-day checklist
- Copy your league’s exact scoring before you start. Custom values change rankings a lot.
- Rank by fantasy points per game, then break ties on projected games.
- Don’t pay for percentages: a 45% shooter on volume beats a 60% shooter on four shots.
- Value steals and blocks: at four points each they swing a week.
- Late, take minutes over names.